Use less colors on paths

[Apflkuacha]

In some areas freemap is drawing way too much colors. I do know that they represent different paths like hiking/horse riding/biking/skating/skitouring and probably many more. But to have over 10 different colors in total and sometimes 7 colors next to each other is too much and doesn't help anyone. Example:

Suggestions: put the different colored routes as separate layers, so the user could choose which ones he is interested in and should be shown. Example of a map with loads of different layers (more of them could be found with the search box): map.geo.admin.ch
I'm currently working on a layer which shows the hiking and biking difficulty. Another advantage: Layers could be laid over any kind of map. I do use the app "AlpineQuest" which allows adding various layers. But also with other apps it could be accomplished. See here:

[zdila]

I know about this issue. Creating separate layers would need extra resources we don't have now (developers, hardware). Also putting such layers on top of the map would make it ugly as it would cover everything blow - labels, POI icons... and other software using our map would need to implement this functionality as well (Locus, OsmAnd, other websites using this map...).

Solution can be vector maps where you can dynamically switch map features. See for example https://www.maptiler.com/maps/#style=outdoor&lang=en&mode=3d&position=14.3/20.08884/49.18017/0.00/60.0 which also covers the whole world and is even in 3D. Unfortunately vector maps of this technology still can't reach that high "pixel-perfect" quality as raster maps rendered by mapnik. BTW I can include this map on www.freemap.sk, but only in 2D because of the different map library used.

BTW this is a duplicate of #84 (which is unfortunately reported in Slovak language).

[MartinLichtblau]

I too find the colored path distracting for my use cases, e.g. when distinguishing path I can hike vs. roads I can ride with a mountainbike.

1. Why not remove the coloring by default? These infos can be easily overlaid.
2. Why not make path vs. roads easier to distinguish? This is a crucial distinction and there is no way to change it afterwards. P.S.: Ok if I create a separate issue for it?

[zdila]

Why not remove the coloring by default? These infos can be easily overlaid

They can't because labels and POI icons must be rendered above otherwise the result would be ugly. It is a raster map, not a vector one where you can turn on/off various layers. Additionally it would require changes in the rendering engine and map providers would need to be also provided by those overlays (Locus, OSMAnd and lots of other apps and websites already using outdoor map).

Fortunately there are alternatives where you don't have coloured ways, for example https://opentopomap.org

Or try to propose alternative without separate layers (and layer switching).

Why not make path vs. roads easier to distinguish?

What do you mean by "roads"? Highways, primary, secondary, tertiary, living streets etc are easily distinguishable from paths for me.

I can also distinguish track from paths. But this is also often difficult to distinguish track vs path in the terrain (eg. if the track is not often used by 4-wheel vehicles). Next, on many paths you can ride a bike (for example singletrails are paths) but you can't on tracks which often have unsuitable surface/smoothness. For this a mtb_scale tag could be used, but it would add even more information to this map. Maybe you can try some other alternatives for mtb, https://mtbmap.cz/ comes to my mind right now, but I bet there are plenty more based on OSM data.

Feel free to create separate issue with examples (screenshots, suggestions (mockups) etc).